July 7, 2006

Dear Resurrection Family,

I've been in the office the last couple of days for interviews and meetings. We're interviewing candidates for the contemporary music director for our new Resurrection West campus. I also had a chance to be a part of a meeting at Pioneer Trail Junior High at Lone Elm and 105th where our new satellite location will launch in 6 weeks. We previewed the video technology that will allow our sermons to be simulcast live on Sunday mornings to the west location. It is amazing. The image is in high definition so it looks incredible. We'll launch with two services - one contemporary and one traditional, along with children's programming. We have assembled an incredible team of staff to lead this effort. The music will be awesome, the lights and sound will be terrific. And, when it is time for the sermon I will look into the camera here in our Sanctuary, welcome the worshipers at the west campus, and then begin the sermon.

One of the things that is amazing about this technology is that once we begin broadcasting the sermon in this way, it could be picked up anywhere in the United States if there were other conferences who wanted to start satellite locations in their area. We should also be able to broadcast the sermons live on the Internet. I believe God is going to do something very exciting at our new west campus to help us, in that location, to "build a Christian community where non- religious and nominally religious people are becoming deeply committed Christians."

I just have four brief bits of news today:

1. Meet our Two Newest Pastors This Weekend

With pastors Russell and Molly heading to lead Resurrection West, we began looking, earlier this year, for two new pastors to join our staff. I am excited and pleased to announce to you our Bishop has appointed Rev. Andrew Conard and Rev. Nicole Conard to our pastoral team. Andrew and Nicole just graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., where I first met them. Andrew was President of the class at Wesley. He also holds a Bachelors degree in biology from Pittsburg State. Nicole earned her Bachelors degree in religious studies at Elon University in North Carolina before beginning seminary. Both are among the top graduates of this year's class at Wesley.

Andrew and Nicole were recently married and are excited to be serving this congregation as pastors. Both have a passion for the renewal of the United Methodist Church, for missions, and for evangelism. Nicole has served in youth work, Christian education, pastoral care and missions during her seminary career. Andrew has served in missions, national parks ministry, and student ministry while in seminary. Some of you may know Andrew - his father is a District Superintendent in the Kansas West Conference.

I'll introduce Andrew and Nicole to you in worship this weekend. They are a wonderful couple!

I'm also excited that our own Connie Wilson, who has served in a variety of leadership roles in our congregation, with her completion of seminary will now be appointed as a full time pastor in our congregational care team. Many of you know Connie already. Her ministry is a gift to us, and her appointment by the Bishop as one of our pastors in Congregational Care is a great blessing to this church.

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2. Resurrection Summer Festival Tomorrow!

Join Me and Invite a Friend Tomorrow as the First Annual Resurrection Summer Festival Begins.You've heard all about it. Plan to invite your friends, neighbors and family members to be a part of this great event. The event begins with the Resurrection rummage sale at 8:00 am. I just wandered through the rummage sale - I've never seen so much "rummage" in my life! Proceeds benefit United Methodist Women's mission programs. Then the motorcycle ride departs the west parking lot at 9:30 am. I hope those of you with cycles will plan to join me for the ride. The car show starts at 9:00 am. I'm scheduled to be in the dunk tank at 12:30 pm. - that is, if any of you can hit the side of a barn! We'll have music and great food and inflatables for the kids. Our Saturday evening worship will be outside and will include terrific special music. Following worship we'll have great food, Christian comedy and then the Annie Moses Band in concert.

This event is both a fellowship event and an opportunity for you to introduce your friends and neighbors to the church. Don't miss the fun!

3. Leadership Summit Early bird Registration Deadline Approaches

In June I invited you to consider being a part of the Leadership Summit hosted via satellite at the Church of the Resurrection this August 10-12. The early bird registration deadline is July 14. This event, coming to us live via satellite and big screen from Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, is going to be an awesome and inspiring event. I am asking all of our leaders at the church to join me for this. Every committee member, all of our leaders in every ministry area – if at all possible, I'd like you to join me in attending. The cost for those outside our church is $235. Because we're hosting this event our folks can attend for only $65, but you must register by July 14 to receive this rate. Here is the weblink, www.cor.org/catalyst. Once there, enter the password, summithost to receive the discounted rate. You'll be inspired, challenged and equipped for leadership. I am personally looking forward to this as part of my continuing education for the year.

4. Sue Mark's 10th Anniversary

This week my Executive Assistant, Sue Thompson, will celebrate her 10th anniversary on staff. During that time she has handled over 100,000 e-mail and voice mail, met with over 10,000 people, mentored, encouraged and cared for so many, and she has made possible everything that I do here at the church. She is, in many ways, the glue that holds things together here. I am most grateful and honored to serve Christ with her.

Sue is the 8th staff member to reach her 10th anniversary. Of the 16 staff that worked at the church in 1996, 9 are still employed at the church. We have 46 employees who have been here between 5 and 10 years. We have an incredible group of people on our staff - their commitment to Christ and to you are remarkable. Congratulations to Sue on her 10 years of leadership and service to this church!

I hope to see you at the Festival and this weekend in worship!

Adam